Open AccessIRX 5 promotes NF ‐κB signalling to increase proliferation, migration and invasion via OPN in tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Huang Liyuan,
Song Fangfang,
Sun Hualing,
Zhang Lu,
Huang Cui
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.13664
Subject(s) - gene knockdown , homeobox , osteopontin , transcription factor , cancer research , cell growth , biology , cell migration , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , gene , endocrinology , genetics
Iroquois homeobox gene 5 ( Irx5 ) is a highly conserved member of the Iroquois homeobox gene family. Members of this family play distinct and overlapping roles in normal embryonic cell patterning and development of malignancies. In this study, we observed that IRX 5 was abnormally abundant in tongue squamous cell carcinoma ( TSCC ) tissues and cell lines. We used gain‐ and loss‐of‐function methods to overexpress and knockdown IRX 5 expression in the TSCC cell line CAL 27. Our results elucidated that elevated levels of IRX 5 promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of TSCC cells, whereas stable or transient knockdown of IRX 5 expression suppressed TSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. As a transcription factor, IRX 5 performed this function by targeting osteopontin ( OPN ) promoter and activating the NF ‐κB pathway. Finally, studies in xenograft tumour model showed that IRX 5 significantly enhanced OPN expression and promoted tumour growth. Taken together, our study elucidates a promotive effect of IRX 5 in TSCC through the connection with OPN . These findings reveal the new molecular mechanism of TSCC , which may potentiate its use as a novel molecular therapy target for TSCC .